Okon Edem is a 31-year-old fisher man from Nnung Ikono Obio, Ikono local government area of Akwa Ibom State has been arrested by police detectives from the Cross River State Police Command on suspicion of child trafficking.
Daily Independent gathered that one Ebito Okon, operations officer of Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Bakassi LGA of Cross River State facilitated the arrest and subsequent handover of the suspected child trafficker to the police.
The suspect is accused of trying to traffic one Abasi-Ifreke Akpanudo Uwa, (12), who hails from Asikuting, Atam Oton, in Ikono local government area Akwa Ibom State.
The words of Master Uwa: “We were three children playing at our compound, Asikuting in Bakassi, Cross River state when Edem drove a motor-cycle and stopped near our compound. He pretended that the bike has developed fault and pleaded with us to help push it.
“As soon as the bike started, the fisherman, according to the confessions of Master Uwa to the police brought out his white handkerchief and placed it on top of our heads, while pretending to show appreciation for our helping him to push his bike.”
He added that “Immediately we lost our senses and he ordered us to sit on his bike while he zoomed off and when confronted by the police officers on duty at a one of the checkpoints, he told them that we were his children.”
It was further gathered that another victim, Ime Effiong, (13), also told the police that when they he was one of the three children that was playing football with Master Uwa when the suspect surfaced from nowhere.
Police detectives said that Edem when drilled confessed that he sold the children for N10, 000 each to one Mrs. Ubok-Udom John at Bakassi local government area.
His words: The woman is known well known in Bakassi as one who finds house maids for people. But, she vanished into thin air as soon as she paid me N30, 000 for the three children I brought to her.
But, Hogan Bassey, Police Public Relations Officer for the Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying that the police is still investigating the matter to see if, Edem contrary to his statement is one of the recruiting agents for the woman, who is presently on the run.
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